Nanyang Hua Chi'ao to Malaysian Chinese: the emergence of a new Chinese identity in Malaysia

Abstract

It is argued that the success of Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia lies in their unique `Chineseness'. This unique `Chineseness', as many argued created a chain of broad networks that links Chinese with Chinese together. Although the assumption may be true in a broad context, in Malaysia this assumption does not hold. The sojourning Chinese during the period of the `Chinese Diaspora' came to Malaya in search of economic wealth. However the political situation in Malaya induced a change in identity to which `Overseas Chinese' identity accepted. In part, was this identity gave them an edge over the indigenous population. Within a short period of a few decades, the Chinese had already dominated various economic sectors and controlled the middle class. As their economic base continued to expand after independence, the Malays soon came to realize that they were left with a fragmented society. As Chinese strive further, first economic and later politics, the Malays see the need to retard their expansion. The rapid expansion of Chinese economic base led to a racial confrontation on May 13th 1969. The event became the turning point and the New Economic Policy (NEP) was enacted to redistribute wealth amongst the Malays. As a result of political change, the Chinese were forced to adapt to a different situation by adopting a new identity. In turn, this new identity as `Malaysian Chinese' became the determinant of their success in modern Malaysia.